Remotely controlled spray head



Nov. 19, 1963 B. J. BUTLER REMOTELY CONTROLLED SPRAY HEAD 2 Sheets-Shget 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1961 IN VEN TOR.

EHar/w@f Nov. 19, 1963 B. J. BUTLER REMOTELY coNTRoLLED SPRAY HEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 27, 1961 INVENToR. Zever/@oazd BY 29M Lam/#w 3,111,268 REMGTELY CONIRLLED SPRAY HEAD Beverly Jack Butler, Urbana, Hl., assigner to University of Illinois Foundation, a corporation of ois, a nonprofit corporation Filed Nov. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 155,067 7 Claims. (Si. 239-176) This invention relates to a spraying attachment and in particular to a spraying attachment in which the extent or swath of the spray, as well as its elevation, can be varied. In addition, a construction is provided wherein the extent of the spray is remotely controllable. The spraying attachment includes a spray head containing a plurality of nozzles (adjustably positioned, if desired) through which a fluid such as, a herbicide, or the like is sprayed into a fan-like array.

The invention is especially useful as an attachment for wheeled vehicles which travel along the ground, pavement, tracks, or the like. For example, the spraying attachment of the invention is useful in spraying weeds and brush along a roadside yfrom a truck or the like.

A novel spray head is supported on an outwardly extending boom `at some distance from the vehicle. The extent of the fan-like array is controlled `from the vehicle by the operator. Such an arrangement is particularly useful where it is necessary or desirable to vary the extent of the spray quickly from minimum to maximum so as to obtain the greatest width of spray path, or lfrom maximum to minimum so as to obtain a diminished spray path, for example, at the end of a eld or pasture or at a location in which there are buildings, equipment, or people who would come partially or wholly in contact with the spray of the spraying attachment.

According to the invention lthere is provided an attachment for selectively varying the extent of the fan-like array of the spray. To accomplish this, a remotely disposed spray head is provided. The spray head includes a closure member which closes off communication of the lluid to one or more generally aligned spray nozzles. A seat for the closure member, preferably composed of nylon or polytetrafluoroethylene is provided.

Au auxiliary spray head is also employable along with the spray head mentioned above. The auxiliary spray head has one or more nozzlesl which spray the fluid in a fan-like array in preferably general alignment with the fan-like spray of the other spray head. The auxiliary spray head is of the type wherein the extent of the spray is constant when uid under constant pressure passes therethrough.

Having described the invention generally, reference is now made to the ydiagrammatic drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevation view showing the spraying attachment employed in conjunction with a wheeled vehicle;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view, partly broken away, showing the details of construction of the spray head and the auxiliary spray head;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the spray head and the auxiliary spray head `of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional -view `taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE 4.

Referring now to FIGURE l of the diagrammatic drawings, there is shown a spraying attachment generally indicated at for spraying -a herbicide or the like onto any desired region. The spraying attachment 19, having a group of iixed or adjustable spray heads 16a, as well as an auxiliary spray head 10b, is supported `from a wheeled vehicle, generally designated at 11, by a boom 3,1 l 1,268 Patented Nov. 19, 1963 i he,...

12 Iwhich serves also as a fluid-carrying conduit which receives its uid `from a tank as will later be explained. The Iboom 12 is held at its inner end by an adjustable coupling 71, which provides a huid-tight member through which raising and lowering of the boom may occur within reasonable limits. The outer end of the boom has a clamp 72 which carries pulley member 73. A hoisting cable 74 is fastened to the outer end 75 of a pivoted arm or link 76, which also supports a pulley member 77 and is secured at its upper end to a swivel joint 78 mounted on the upper end of a -gantry 15. The -gantry also has a pulley 16 at its upper end. This pulley is carried from a spindle held in a swivel hoist 78. The cable 74 is passed over the pulley 16 to be wrapped about the drum or reel 79 which may be turned in any desired fashion by the operator by means of the indicated crank 80. A suitable pawl mechanism (not Ispecifically shown) to hold the vdrum in any desired position is provided in connection with the drum 79 and its crank 80 and is also carried from the support bracket 81, the support bracket being held also from the gantry I15.

The foregoing components are carried upon any suitable form of wheeled vehicle 11, as above suggested, with the truck (illustrated only for its rear portion) providing one possible form of the device. If desired, the spraying attachment can be secured to a railway car or any other desired form of vehicle or truck adapted to be moved along any suitable chosen path. rIfhe wheeled vehicle 11 preferably carries its own source oi fluid supply within the indicated tank.

The spraying attachment 1t) is controlled (as will later be described) by an operator by means of the indicated iiexible cable r1&1 which is preferably so located that it can easily be actuated *by hand. The cable can readily be carried by the extended boom 12 and clamped thereto by clamps 13, as desired.

The gantry 15 extends upwardly from the vehicle. The boom 12 through which the lluid is supplied to the spraying device 10' through the coupling 71 connects through the conduit 17, a suitable valve 53 and the liuidtight coupling I18 to the pump P. By means of a suitaoly chosen handle 29, the boom 12 may be rotated about the axis of the conduit 17. 'Ihe weight of the extending boom arm 12 and its spray nozzles is taken mainly bythe support cable 74 so that the handles Ztl which are attached to the conduit 17 normally provide an adequate means of rotating the boom about the indicated vertical axis, although power means (not shown) through the Well-known type of clutch device may be utilized Where desired.

It will be noted that the gantry is recessed in generally the area at which the boom is adapted to turn to provide more lturning room. Further functional bracing of the gantry is provided by a strut 17 which secures it to the forward part (not shown) of the vehicle which carries the iluid tank, the gantry and the outwardly vextending boom. Such fluid as is drawn out from the tank by means of the pump P is then fed through the outwardly extending boom, as a conduit, to the nozzle members 1li in the indicated fashion with control of the issuing duid quantity established through the flexible cable 14 connecting at one end (see particularly FIG. 2) to the valve control mechanism and at the other end to a control handle 42 (later to be explained) within the range of the operators control.

Referring now more particularly to the construction of the novel spraying head arrangement of the present invention shown in FIGURES 2 through 5, inclusive, the distal end of the conduit boom 12 is shown threaded into an end plate 21 of the spray head 10a. A seat member 22 disposed opposite the end plate 21, and which with said end plate comprises a circular spray-head body, closes off the other side of the spray head a. A seat 23 of the seat member 22 forms a seat for a `closure member 24. A plurality of spaced threaded fasteners a secure the end plate 21 and the seat member 22 with the seat 23, together in a fluid-tight relation. The seat 23 is preferably composed of nylon or polytetratluoroethylene, usually sold under the trademark Teflon These materials are preferred, for example, to a/seat composed of steel or the like because they lform good bearing surfaces and permit the closure member 24 to slide easily across the surface thereof.

The seat member 22 has a plurality of apertures 25 which lead to spaced spraying nozzles 26. The spraying nozzles 26 are each threaded into a bore 27 in the seat member 22. The nozzle opening is in the form of a narrow slit 2S and all the slits 28 are preferably aligned as are the spraying nozzles 26. The slits 28 and the spraying nozzles 26 are preferably aligned to cause the fluid to be sprayed out in a fan-like array so that it covers a considerable area. I-f desired, other types of spraying nozzles (not shown) can be easily interchanged for those shown in the drawings. It is apparent that the fluid which passes into the spraying attachment 19a through the distal end of the conduit 12 enters a chamber 29 in which the closure member 24 is disposed in seating relation with the seat 23.

Where it is desired to turn the nozzles individually relative to the seat member 22, a ball-seat arrangement, as shown in the upper portion of FIG. 5, may be utilized. A construction of this type provides for connection into the connection of the valves into a passageway leading into the chamber 29 as do the remaining valves. `In addition, the valve slits or openings 28a pass through a ball member 33. This ball is held by the cap S4 to the nozzle mounting support 85 and is supported in a fluid-tight relationship by the conventionally indicated O-rings 86. The ball member 83 may thus be turned in any desired fashion so that the issuing fluid stream passing through the slits 28a are directed upwardly or downwardly or even laterally.

The closure member 24 is adapted to slide across the surface of the seat 23 to close olf communication between one or more of the passages 25 and the nozzles 26. The angular extent of the `fan-like array may be varied simply by rotating the closure member 24. The closure member 24 is shown to be a segment of a generally circular disc but `a circular disc having apertures therein which is alignable with apertures 25 is also employable, for example, as an alternative construction.

The closure member 24 is threadably secured at one end to a drive shaft 30 While a pinion 31 is attached thereto at the other end. The pinion 31 is shown to be secured to the drive shaft 30 by a key 32. A locking nut 33 insures the secure location of the pinion 31 with respect to the drive shaft 3). A spring 34 encircles the drive shaft 30 and constantly urges the closure member 24 against the seat 23 to insure that there is no leakage between adjacent apertures 25. The pinion 31 is driven by a rack 35 which slides in a housing 36. The housing 36 :is composed of side plates 37 and 33 and end plates 39 and 40. The side plates 37 and 38 and the end plate 39 serve to guide the rack as it moves longitudinally with respect thereto. The exible cable 14 includes a fixed outer cable 41 Which enciroles a movable inner cable 42. The inner cable 42 is secured to `one end of the rack 35. A fitting 43 connects the outer cable 41 to the housing 36 land a lock nut 44 locks the tting 43 securely in place. When the operator moves the inner cable 42 the closure member 24 is correspondingly moved to cover one or more of the apertures 25 to vary the angular extent of the sian-like array of the spray.

Some of the Huid which passes through the conduit 12 passes into a fitting 5ft which leads into a generally downwardly and sidewardly directed auxiliary spray head Cil or nozzle ygenerally indicated at 10b. The latter spray head 1% is provided with what is shown to be a spraying nozzle comprising a `single slot 51 which is generally aligned with the slits 23 in the spraying nozzles 26. It is apparent therefore that the spraying nozzles 26 making up the spraying device 1bn as aforesaid function to extend the fan-like array of the spraying head llb. Since the spray head 1Gb is not variable as is -the spray head 10a, the only control of the amount of uid spray is the size and shape of the slot 51 and the pressure of the fluid which passes therethrough. The amount of iluid which passes through the conduit 12 to the spray head 16a and lthe auxiliary spray head 10b is manually controlled by the operator through a 'valve 53 along portion 17 of conduit 12.

ln the operation of the spraying attachment of the invention, the operator, when he -Wishes to spray an area, rst opens the valve 53 to the desired valve opening. Such results in fluid passing to the auxiliary spray means 1Gb quite independently of fluid being supplied to the spray head 11i/a proper. Depending upon the position of the closure member 24, which of course functions as a valve, iluid passes into one or more of the passages 25 which lead to the :spray nozzles 26. By pushing or pulling on the proximal end of the inner cable 42, the closure member can be moved progressively to open up or close off communication between one or more of the passages 25, thereby varying the angular extent of the fan-like array provided by said nozzles 26 with :respect to that provided by the spray head or nozzle 1Gb. When, for example, the end of a iield or pasture is reached, or the spraying attachment comes into close proximity with building, equipment or people, the position of the closure member 24 is readily controlled by the operator from a position remotely disposed therefrom.

Where it i-s desired to provide the spraying mechanism in such a fashion as to .spray bushes or the like as compared yto the ground, the boom 12 is raised in the fashion already explained by the crank member 89.

Conventional materials of construction can generally be employed in constructing the attachment of the invention, but as pointed out above the seat 23 is preferably composed of nylon or polytetrailuoroethylene. The seat member 22 exclusive of the lseat 23 is preferably composed of aluminum, and likewise the end plate 21 is also preferably composed of aluminum. The conduit 12 can be composed of `aluminum also but in this case, stiffeners integral with the conduit 12 or guys 13 :should be employed. When ythe conduit12 is constructed of a stronger material such as :steel suiiiciently large in size or if provided with integral stieners, the gantry 15 and the guys 13 cm be eliminated.

The above-described embodiment being exemplary only, it will be understood that the present invention comprehends organlations differing in form or detail from the presently described embodiment. Accordingly, the yinvention is not to be considered as limited save as is consonant with the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A spraying attachment comprising a circular valve body and means mounting same on edge and raised from the ground, a liquid supply line extending from a source of supply to said valve body, a lirst spray nozzle operatively related to said valve body and being connected to said liquid supply line `for liquid supply thereto independently of liquid supply to said Valve body proper and in position such as to .spray liquid supplied thereto in a Vertical fan-shaped path of limited extent extending downwardly from and to one side of said Valve body, and a plurality `of spray nozzles mounted in spaced relation with respect to one another on said valve body and being arranged thereon in an arcuate series which extends snbstantiaily from said iirst spray nozzle upwardly along the other side of said valve body whereby to be capable of spraying liquid `supplied thereto in a fan-shaped vertical spray path which extends in continuation of said first spray path, and valve means in said body for controlling the supply of liquid progressively to said plurality of nozzles, thereby either to extend or diminish the continuation spray path with respect to said rst spray path.

2. A spraying attachment according to claim l, including independently actuable means located remote from said valve body for controlling supply of liquid to said rst nozzle and for actuating said movable control means in said valve body.

3. A spraying device comprising a movable support vehicle having thereon a container adapted to hold lluid to be sprayed, a support gantry carried on the support vehicle, a rotatable arm extending outwardly from the support vehicle and carried by said gantry, said arm being adapted to be positioned and rotatably moved relative to the vehicle in a substantially circumferential path, a plurality of generally aligned spray nozzles adapted to connect at the outer end of `the arm, at least one of the nozzles being positioned to direct the spray laterally inwardly toward the vehicle and a plurality of additional nozzles adapted to direct their output in an arcuate path, means for separately controlling the iluid output from each of vthe separately arranged arcuate nozzles, means for supplying ilu-id from the tank to the nozzles, and flow control means controllable from the movable vehicle for selectively controlling the lluid passage through each of the nozzles spraying in an arcuate path.

4. A spraying device comprising a movable vehicle having thereon a container adapted to house fluid to be sprayed, a support gantry extending outwardly from the vehicle, an elongated support arm connected at one end to the vfluid supply contained within the container and supported in an outwardly extending position from the vehicle by the gantry, means for rotating the support arm about the vehicle and the gantry as a central support position so that the mm may travel in a substantially arcuate path, a spray head connected to receive fluid supply from the outwardly extending end of the arm, the spray head comprising a plurality of substantially aligned spray nozzles lor directing uid outwardly therefrom in substantially fan-like patterns each covering a selected sectorial pattern, means for controlling the opening and closing of the individual spray heads from the vehicle, an auxiliary spray head adapted to eject a constant quanity of fluid independently of the control of the multiple spray head, and means on the vehicle for controlling the quantity or" lluid supplied to all of the spray heads.

5. A spraying `device comprising a movable support vehicle, 'a rotatable nozzle-support arm extending outwardly from the support vehicle and positioned for rotatable movement relative to the vehicle in fa substantially circurnferential path, a plurality of generally aligned spray nozzles connected at one end of the arm, means for supp13/ing uid substantially from the vehicle-supported end 6 of the arm and through the arm to the nozzles, and means controllable from the movable vehicle for selectively controlling the fluid passage outwardly through each of the nozzles.

6. A spraying device comprising a movable vehicle having thereon a container adapted to house uid to be sprayed, a support gantry extending substantially vertically from the vehicle, an elongated tubular support arm connected at one end to receive iluid from the supply contained within the container so that fluid may flow therethrough, means to support the tubular arm in an outwardly extending position from the vehicle from the gantry, means for rotating the support arm about the vehicle and the gant-ry as a central support position for arm travel in a substantial arcuate path, means to supply iluid under pressure into the tubular arm, a spray head connected at the outer end of the arm to receive fluid supplied under pressure to the tubular arm, the spray head comprising a plurality of substantially arcuately aligned spray nozzles for directing tluid outwardly therefrom in substantially fan-like patterns each covering a selected sectorial pattern, means for controlling the opening and closing of the individual spray -heads from the vehicle, land means on the vehicle for controlling the quantity of fluid supplied to all of the spray heads.

7. A spraying device comprising a movable vehicle having thereon a container adapted `to house fluid to be sprayed, a support gantry extending substantially vertically from the vehicle, an elongated tubular support arm connected Iat one end -to receive fluid vfrom the supply contained within the container so that tluid may flow therethrough, means to support the tubular arm in an outwardly extending position frorn the vehicle from the gantry, means for rotating the support arm about the vehicle and the gantry as a central support position for arm travel in a substantial arcuate path, means to supply iluid under pressure into the tubular arm, a spray head connected at the outer end of the arm to receive iluid flowing through the tubular arm, the spray head comprising a plurality of substantially aligned spray nozzles for directing uid outwardly therefrom in substantially `fan-like patterns each covering a selected sectorial pattern, means for controlling the opening and closing of the individual spray heads from the vehicle, an auxiliary spray head adapted to eject a constant quantity of lluid independently of the control of the multiple spray head, and means on the vehicle for controlling the quantity of uid supplied to all of the spray heads through the tubular arm.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 159,182 Jeremiah lan. 26, 1875 2,548,482 Kouril Apr. 10, 1951 2,655,405 Lattner Oct. 13, 1953 FORElGN PATENTS 12,458 Austria 1903 

1. A SPRAYING ATTACHMENT COMPRISING A CIRCULAR VALVE BODY AND MEANS MOUNTING SAME ONEDGE AND RAISED FROM THE GROUND, A LIQUID SUPPLY LINE EXTENDIG FROM A SOURCE OF SUPPLY TO SAID VALVE BODY, A FIRST SPRAY NOZZLE OPERATIVELY RELATED TO SAID VALVE BODY AND BEING CONNECTED TO SAID LIQUID SUPPLY LINE FOR LIQUID SUPPLY THERETO INDEPENDENTLY OF LIQUID SUPPLY TO SAID VALVE BODY PROPER AND IN POSITION SUCH AS TO SPRAY LIQUID SUPPLIED THERETO IN A VERTICAL FAN-SHAPED PATH OF LIMITED EXTENT EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM AND TO ONE SIDE OF SAID VALVE BODY, AND A PLURALITY OF SPRAY NOZZLED MOUNTED IN SAPCED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER ON SAID VALVE BODY AND BEING ARRANGED THEREON IN AN ARCUATE SERIES WHICH EXTENDS SUBSTANTIALLY FROM SAID FIRST SPRAY NOZZLE UPWARDLY ALONG THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID VALVE BODY WHEREBY TO BE CAPABLE OF SPRAYING LIQUID SUPPLIED THERETO IN A FAN-SHAPED VERTICAL SPRAY PATH WHICH EXTENDS IN CONTINUATION OF SAID FIRST SPRAY PATH, AND VALVE MEANS IN SAID BODY FOR CONTROLLING THE SUPPLY OF LIQUID PROGRESSIVELY TO SAID PLURALITY OF NOZZLES, THEREBY EITHER TO EXTEND OF DIMINISH THE CONTINUATION SPARY PATH WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST SPRAY PATH. 